Folded sheet dispenser



July 1, 1952 A. F. AMERSLAV FOLDED SHEET DISPENSER Filed Feb. 15, 1950 Andrew E Amers/av INVENTOR.

BY Q4, and

Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FOLDED S13E05: firsrsnssa 7 Andrew F. Amerslav, Minneapolis, Minn. Application February 13, 1950, Serial No. 143,943

This invention relates to the class of measuring and dispensing devices, and more particularly to a device for dispensing folded sheet articles such as paper napkins, stamp hinges, paper towels, and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a folded sheet dispenser that will readily dispense folded sheets in a highly sanitary manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for dispensing folded stamp hinges which are gummed on one side singly and sanitarily.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a folded stamp hinge dispenser that will readily substitute another hinge for one previously dispensed, sothat the hinges may be simply, conveniently and individually obtained.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a stamp hinge dispenser that is strong, durable, highly efiicient in operation, simple in construction and design, capable of being readily and easily manufactured, fabricated from a variety of divergent materials, and. which is quite inexpensive.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this folded sheet dispenser, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stamp hinge dispenser embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the folded sheet articles such as stamp hinges which are adapted to be dispensed by the novel dispensing device; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a combined stop and securing means forming one element of the present invention.

With the continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral l0 generally designates an embodiment of the invention used as a dispenser for stamp hinges.

This device comprises a casing I2 having an open end M. A guide block I6 is slidably mounted in bearing engagement with the top and bottom bearing walls l8 and 20 and the side walls 22 and 24 of the casing.

4 Claims. (01. 312-62) The side walls 22 and 24 are each provided with a notch as'indicated at 25 and 28. A looped elastic band 35 is positioned in encompassing relationship around the block [6 and is secured against the side walls 26 and 28 of the casing I2 by means of a combined securing and retaining member generally indicated at 32.

The combined stop and securing member 32 comprises a pair of substantially parallel legs as and 36 which are formed at their free ends with pointed hook members 38 and '40, respectively.-

fhe legs 3-4 and 36 are connected by a centrally connected portion 42. The centrally connected portion 22 is positioned to extend across the open end it of the casing 12 so as to partially close the opening i i; The hooks 38 and 40 press the elastic member 3i; into the grooves 26 and 38, respectively and securely hold the elastic member thereto. A plurality of folded stamp hinges M or the like are positioned between the guide bloel: It and the central portion 42 and are con .outer flap 46 of successive folded sheets is placed into the \.-'-folded portion of the sheet e4 next adjacent. folded are placed into the container I2 with the manifold 46 of the foremost sheet extending through the opening in the open end of the casing l2 above the retaining member 32. The sheets may now be successively withdrawn from the block since the withdrawal of the first sheet will frictionally contact between the members it of the successive sheets to cause the flap 46 of the successive sheet to move with the member 43 of the drawn sheet and to project out of the casing 12, an operation which may 'ee repeated until all the sheets have been withdrawn. In order to maintain the frictional contact between the outer flaps and V-shaped portions of the sheets, the elastic member 30 continuously urges the block it to press against the sheets fi l so as to continually maintain them in the smallest possible compass to increase friction thereof.

Obviously, the dispensing device as shown may be readily used for other paper or sheet articles than stamp hinges. In addition, the elements forming the invention may be made from a number of divergent materials such as plastics, pro? erably those made from synthetic thermosetting resins, although metals such as aluminum and stainless steel can be readily used. It is also possible to make the block it of wood and Then the sheets folded and inter limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which 7 fall within the scope of the appended claims Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. A dispensing device for folded sheets comprising a casing having an open end, a guide block slidable in said casing, an elastic band engaging said guide block urging said guide block toward said open end, said casing having opposed recesses adjacent said open end and combined stop and securing means partially closing said open end and securing said band in said recesses in said casing.

2. A dispensing device for folded sheets comprising a casing having an open end, a guide block slidable in said casing, an elastic band engaging said guide block urging said guide block toward said open end, said casing having opposed recesses adjacent said open end and combined stop and securing means partially closing said open end and securing said band against said casing, said combined stop and securing means comprising a resilient substantially U-shaped member having a pair of substantially parallel legs attached to a central connecting portion, said legs having hooks engaging the ends of said band and holding said ends in said recesses, said central portion extending across said open end.

3, A dispensing device for folded sheets comprising a casing having an open end, a guide block slidable in said casing, an elastic band engaging said guide block urging said guide block toward said open end, said casing having opposed recesses adjacent said open end and combined stop and securing means partially closing said open end and securing said hand against said casing, said combined stop and securing means comprising a resilient substantially U-shaped member having a pair of substantially parallel legs attached to a central connecting portion, said legs having hooks engaging the ends of said band and holding said ends in said recesses.

4. A dispensing side for folded sheets comprising a casing having an open end, a guide block slidable in said casing, resilient means engaging said guide block urging said guide block toward said open end, and combined stop and securin means partially closing said open end and securing said resilient means against said casing, said combined stop and securing means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of substantially parallel legs attached to a central connecting portion, said legs engaging said casing, said central portion extending across said open end, and hook means on said legs engaging matching recesses in said casing, said resilient means comprising an elastic member positioned between the legs of said U-shaped member and the casing and engaged by said hook means within said recesses.

ANDREW F. AMERSLAV.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,196 McCorkindale Mar. 6, 1917 1,682,580 Pratt Aug. 28, 1928 

